The snow is falling on the ancient streets of Rome. And in the heart of the city, under the Pantheon’s great dome, a woman’s body lies ...
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reviews
Feb 12, 2008
Nancy
rated it: 
If you have read Hewson's work before, then I definitely can recommend this installment (3rd in the Nic Costa series); if you like a well-written mystery that doesn't insult your intelligence, then I can recommend it to you and if you enjoy a good conspiracy yarn & a view of Italy, then you will like this one. If you want a cute little cozy yarn, skip it. I think Hewson writes mysteries the way they should be written, although I must say I had most of it figured out early on. Normally I hate tha
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Feb 02, 2009
el_quijote
rated it: 
The Sacred Cut
Again, I have walked into the middle of a suspense mystery writer’s series. So I won’t try to recapitulate the characters or the story. What I will say is David Hewson is a fine writer. He develops characters extremely well. He writes for an intelligent audience. This book was set in Rome and was full of artistic and architectural detail. And he can tell a damn fine tale. All of which is why I thoroughly enjoyed the story and recommend it.
The only down side More...
Again, I have walked into the middle of a suspense mystery writer’s series. So I won’t try to recapitulate the characters or the story. What I will say is David Hewson is a fine writer. He develops characters extremely well. He writes for an intelligent audience. This book was set in Rome and was full of artistic and architectural detail. And he can tell a damn fine tale. All of which is why I thoroughly enjoyed the story and recommend it.
The only down side More...
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Jan 04, 2009
Rossrn
rated it:
The Sacred Cut was the first book I'd read by David Hewson and apparently it is the third of seven Nic Costa detective books. My benchmark for detective books is the Arkady Renko series by Martin Cruz Smith. I didn't get to know Costa the same way I did Renko. There was some information, and maybe if I go back and read them in order I'd better understand the character. Having said that it was a decent read, but not great.
Costa and his partner, Gianni Peroni, are on-duty before Chri More...
Costa and his partner, Gianni Peroni, are on-duty before Chri More...
Apr 12, 2009
Ed
rated it:
This is my first Hewson Novel. It starts fast but drags at the end. In fact, I believe he could have made the book fifty pages shorter and had a better story.
I don't need to be told all the details of what happens to the characters after the bad guy is caught as was done in this book. I'd rather leave most of that that to my imagination and if it's important in a subsequent volume in the series, tell me in a prologue to that story. Daniel Silva is a master at doing just that.
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I don't need to be told all the details of what happens to the characters after the bad guy is caught as was done in this book. I'd rather leave most of that that to my imagination and if it's important in a subsequent volume in the series, tell me in a prologue to that story. Daniel Silva is a master at doing just that.
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Mar 15, 2011
Jillian
rated it:
http://abookofadifferentcolor.blogspot.c...
I was given this book by a friend who recommended it as a thriller/mystery. That is exactly what this book is. Evidently David Hewson has several books that follow one character: Nic Costa, who is a police detective in Rome.
In this book, a body is found during a crazy snow storm with an ancient symbol carved into its back. You soon find out that this is the most recent in a string of similar murders and it is up to Costa More...
I was given this book by a friend who recommended it as a thriller/mystery. That is exactly what this book is. Evidently David Hewson has several books that follow one character: Nic Costa, who is a police detective in Rome.
In this book, a body is found during a crazy snow storm with an ancient symbol carved into its back. You soon find out that this is the most recent in a string of similar murders and it is up to Costa More...
May 22, 2011
jazz-ee2
rated it: 
This was a little like the Da Vinci Code (which I actually really enjoyed - whilst not taxing, it was a good pacy thriller / conspiracy theory). Only this wasn't as good. I got confused by the characters and plot, which cycled between Rome, England, Afghanistan/Iraq and US (I think - as I said, I kept getting lost!). It was quite a slog, but I did manage to get to the end, and I must admit there were some sections which kept me wanting more, just not that many.
Something in the blu More...
Something in the blu More...
Sep 10, 2010
John
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This is the third book of Hewson that I've read and they are pure pulp pleasure. With each book his stories get more far stretched (is that a word?). But his mix of the Roman location, symbol driven mysteries, art and architecture and a well stock cast of characters keep you entertained. Sacred Cut is no different but maybe a little lighter than earlier entries in this series. It is probably said often but Hewson’s series can best compared to Dan Brown’s Di Vinci Code and its sequel and preq
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Aug 03, 2009
Carolyn
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A dead woman is found naked in the center of the Parthenon positioned like Davinci's Vitruvian Man. Before Inspector Costa and his partner, Gianni Peroni, can discover much, the case is taken over by the FBI and the Italian Secret Service. It is soon apparent that the murderer is a serial killer on the loose. So, Costa and Gianni run a parallel secret investigation in order to avoid further blood shed in Rome. It is a good read, but the end is unrealistic as the officers are not punished for t
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May 12, 2011
Christina
rated it:
I didn't finish this book because it took a while to get into it and I couldn't be bothered. I'm sure the story itself isn't too bad, but for me there's something about the names of the characters and their individual stories that makes it somewhat hard to enjoy. I returned this book to the library before halfway.
Aug 06, 2011
I like Hewson's style and find that his characters are well drawn. The setting is excellent and covers a lot of what we saw in Rome last year. His story line is very good and I thought that the ending was both reasonable and entertaining. I'm looking forward to the other books in the series.
Sep 19, 2009
Virginia
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In this third Nic Costa mystery, the Roman cop finds himself involved with American agents on the track of a Desert Storm secret operation gone bad and meets the woman he will later marry and see killed before his eyes in subsequent books in this series. (I am reading them out of sequence.)
Dec 05, 2011
Reetta
rated it:
Nic Costa kaatuu hiukan liian dramaattisiin ja monimutkaisiin kuvioihin - oli kyse sitten murhasta, suurvaltapolitiikasta tai ihmissuhteista. Ehdoton jättimäinen, kyseenalaistamaton, järkkymätön lukukokemus Rooma-friikeille. (Vaikka ehkä roomalaiset olisivat eri mieltä ja Hewson kärsiikin leon-kompleksista).
Jan 18, 2009
Kristen
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This is my third book I've read from the Nic Costa series, an earlier novel, and good nonetheless. It's a hint of romance, plenty of drama and intrigue and beautiful Italy settings. Due to a sick cat and a busy week last week, this book took me a week to read. (I'll be now starting to read more January 2009 books this week, for my challenges, and pick up 6 more on Wednesday.) A great mystery.
Apr 08, 2011
Diane
rated it:
There is a serial killer that carves his victims back in the "sacred cut". The Italian police are butting heads with the FBI even though the murder takes place at the Pantheon. The FBI agent on the case knows far more than he is telling but then the Italian police have some cards up their sleeves too. Very good story line and it does keep moving.
Diane
Diane
Jan 24, 2010
Allie
rated it:
This book was much better than the second one but it still had its moments of just skimming pages to get to the good stuff. It was a guessing game and had a great twist. I don't like when books are predictable.
Oct 05, 2009
4th Nic Costa book I've read (out of order) and they are nice breaks. Good depiction of Italy/Rome, good support characters, historical connections make these books a lot of fun
May 05, 2011
Linny
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Read more Hewson. Includes details of Rome, loves the city. Violence, procedural, history, conflict vs Italian police/US agents.
May 11, 2009
Greg
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Slow starter, despite the horrific events. But once it's roiling it's hard to put down. Also, the mystery's solution itself is really well-thought-out and plays completely fair, yet still came as a total shock to me. That's really hard to pull off.
Aug 02, 2011
I enjoy this series set primarily in Rome. I found the multi-day snowstorm a bit hard to believe.
Mar 17, 2009
Jaci
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Really kept my attention and had lots of Italian atmosphere. Reading the sequel now.
Jan 05, 2009
Doris
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Good book. I had trouble setting down long enough to do my housework. lol
Feb 29, 2008
Robyn
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I was truely sorry when I finally finished listening to this book. It has been my first experience of David Hewson's work. I enjoyed it very much. The author has built the tension in this story very well and the twists in the plot that occurred close to the end is well managed. It is refreshing to read a mystery in which someone else besides the American is the hero. I am off to Borders to buy some paperbacks and can't wait for my next Audible.com subscription to be available so I can listen to
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Nov 19, 2010
Joanne
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I really am enjoying this series. Lots of info about Rome, its icons and history, plus good puzzles. If you like Donna Leon, you'll like these.
Dec 18, 2011
Heli
rated it:
Juoni ja salainen palvelu ei jaksanut täysin innostaa, mutta henkilökuvaus ja Rooman kuvaus piti dekkarin pinnalla. :)
Oct 20, 2010
Pat
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Nick Costa has the FBI in town looking for a serial killer. A robust mystery bringing Rome to life.
Mar 19, 2011
Amanda
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It's an audiobook PB and I listened to on the way to Chicago to visit with potential e-parents.
It was a long and overwrought crime novel. The voices were funny. It was set in Rome and had something to do with undercover missions. That's pretty much all I remember.
It was a long and overwrought crime novel. The voices were funny. It was set in Rome and had something to do with undercover missions. That's pretty much all I remember.
Feb 10, 2012
Vivienne
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I quite enjoyed this though felt that it began quite strongly and then began to meander somewhat towards the conclusion.
Still it is an enjoyable enough series and I like Nic Costa and his allies as ongoing characters.
Jan 10, 2008
Carol-ann
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Loved the descriptions of Rome. Suspense started well, but kind of fizzled near the end and I was left wondering "is that it?"
